Boiler cleaner



Nov. 30 1926. 1,608,866

N. 1.. SNOW ET AL BOILER CLEANER Filed June 14. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 1411011 'ro'w g Sh axi. Snaw elite: we 1;

Nov. 30 1926.

N. L. SNOW ET AL BOILER CLEANER Filed June 14v 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 in 0014 6011 #0724471 ,6. .872 aw Sam maljTCaz W W jv/mzm MSW Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

NORMAN L. snow am) SAMUEL r. cox, MOND rowan srncmmw coarona won or MICHIGAN.

or nnrnoirjmcmean, assronons roma- TION, or nnrnoir, mcnrem, A coarona- BOILER CLEANER.

Application flled June 14,

The invention relates to boiler cleaners and refers more particularly to an improved blower element.

We have discovered that a soot blower element when made of an iron chromium alloy of the proportions hereinafter pointed out, has certain highly desirable characteristics not found in soot blower elements as heretofore made.

We have foundthat when a soot blower element is/ made of the alloy. referred to, it can. readily beformed into tubes with relatively thin walls, which tubes ssess to such a degree that desirable combination of physical pro erties, which we may best describe as too ness, that they will not be ruptured by su den changes in temperature, I caused by the contact of the cleaning fluid, such as steam, with the tube when the letter is highly heated. We have found moreover, that such a tube will stand u satisfactorily under the operating conditlons of a modern boiler where soot blower elements are subjected to very high temperatures in the presence of oxygen'and the other fur nace gases together with the furnace ash containing as it ordinarily does, iron 0xides, alumina, silica, lime and magnesia; such an alloy soot blower element resists 3,0 the erosive actionof said high temperature furnace gases which frequently impinge against the element with considerable high velocity carrying with them quantities of the said furnace ash. We have further found that a soot blower element made of such an alloy will not sag unduly between the supports provided for it in the boiler, even though the blower tube be heated to a bright red or somewhat greater heat and though the supports be relatively widely s aced.

We have further found that our alloy possesses such properties that. as before pointed out, it may be readily formed into tubes, such processes being preferably carried out by the application of mechanical fo'rce.

Referring to the accompanying drawings as steam, air, etc" bein be mounted for rotation 1926. Serial no 115,972.

in which like reference corresponding parts:

Figure 1 represents a section through a typical boiler showing our blower element associated therewith;

Figure l is asectiona'l view along 1-1 of .Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a view of-our blower tube constructed in accordance with one embodiment of our invention;

Figure 3 is a like view of a portion of our' blower tube constructed in accordance with a modified form of our invention;

F igure' 4 is a sectional view of the same along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view of our blower element corresponding to Figures 2 and 3 but illus trating a further and preferred modified form of our invention, and L I Figure 6 is a sectional view of the same along the line 66 of-Figure -5.

Referring to the drawings, reference character A represents a boiler of any suitable type and construction having the usual boiler tubes 10. Mounted at any suitable point or points in the boiler are tubes or elements B, one of which for purposes of illustration is shown mounted for rotation in the head 11, cleanin fluid such supplied through pipe 12 to the blower e ement. If desired the elements may be supported at suitable intervals along their length by the supporting bearings 13. The in the elements forms no feature of our invention, and the elements may or may not as desired.

The blower element constructed in accordance with our invention is formed of iron with chromium as the principal alloying ingredient, the chromium content rang ing from 11 to 30 per cent, the upper limit being determined principally by considercharacters indicate the soot blower anner of supporting ations of working the material by the aplication of mechanical force. We have ound, for example, that the preferred specific quantities of chromium throughout the aforesaid range may be divided into The specific analyses comprising these groups may conveniently be as follows chromium group.

Per cent. Chromium 11 to 14 Carbon less than .50%, preferably under 5 Silicon less than .50 Manganese less than .50 Sulphur less than .045 Phosphorus less than .045 Iron balance,

Intermediate chromium group.

Per cent. Chromium 16 to 19 Carbon less than 25%, preferably under Silicon .5 to 2.0%, preferably .75 to 1.25 Manganese less than .50 Sulphur less than .045 Phosphorus less than .045 Iron balance.

High chrom'iwm group.

Per cent.

Chromium 26 to 30%, preferably 26 to 28 Carbon less than .50%, preferably under 0 Silicon less than v .50 Manganese less than .50 Sulphur less than .045 Phosphorus less than .045

Iron balance.

enter into composition of the material, other than the elements stated, without departing from the salient features of our invention. For example, nickel in small amounts as from 2 to 3% may be added to facilitate working the material.

The alloy material in the ranges of the low and intermediate chromium groups may conveniently beformed into blower tubes by the seamless method as in the ordinary method of manufacturing seamless boiler tubes or the like consisting essentially in forcing a heated bar of the material over a piercing point. A seamless soot blower element constructed by such a method is shown in Figure 2. The high chromuim which for convenience of group does not lend itself as readily to this method as 'do the aforesaid low and intermediate chromium groups.

In forming the blower elements from our alloy material of the high chromium group which group we have found affords the best results in service, we might form the blower element as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In

this instance the element B is formed from the alloy material in relatively thin rolled strip, formed as by the usual rolling mill method, the strip being then wound or coiled spirally with the connecting edges of the strip preferably'slightly overlapped to 'accommodate suitable fasteners such as rivets 14. Obviously, if desired, the alloy material in the low and intermediate chromium groups, as well as throughout the entire chro miuni range as aforesaid,- might also be formed in this manner.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, we have illustrated a further modified blower element B adapted principally to the use of the material of the high chromium group, although adaptable to use of our material containing chromium in percentages throughout -'the entire aforesaid. range. In this embodiment, which is preferred for alloys of the high chromium group, the alloy material may be formed in strip form as rial of this nature in relatively thin rolled form can be welded quite satisfactory as distinguished from the relatively thick wall heavy cast element sections which can be satisfactory welded only with the greatest difficulty.

The various forms of blower elements may be provided with nozzles 16 .for discharging the cleaning fluid adjacent the parts of the boiler to be cleaned. Such nozzles may be formed of our alloy and fixed in the element in any preferred manner.

If desired blower elements may be formed by the application of mechanical force in various other methods without departing from the salient features of our invention. For example, the connecting edges of the spirally formed element from those illustrated shown in Figures 3 and 4 may, if desired,

applied and to be subjected to sudden tem- I perature changes occasioned by the passage of relatively cool cleaning fluid throu h the tube while the tube is highly heate said tube being wrought from alloy material containing chromium as the principal alloying element in sufficient quantity to resist the aforesaid destructive agencies, said alloy having the further characteristic of resist-v ing disruption when subjected to the aforesaid temperature changes.

2. A soot blower cleaner tube adapted in its normal operation to be subjected to the destructive agencies set into action by the operation of the boiler to which the tube is applied and to be subjected to sudden temperature changes occasioned by the passage of relatively cool cleaning. fluid through the tube while the tube is highly heated, said tube being wrought from alloy material containing at least approximately 16% chromium to resist the aforesaid destructive agencies, said alloy having the further characteristic of resistin disruption when subeeted to the aforesaid temperature changes.

3. A soot blower cleaner tube adapted in its normal operation to be subjected to the destructive agencies set into action by the operation of the boiler to which the tube is applied and to be subjected to sudden temperature changes occasioned by the passage of relatively cool cleaning fluid through the tube whilethe tube is highly heated, said tube being Wrought from alloy material containing in excess of approximately chromium to resist the aforesaid destructive agencies, said alloy having the further characteristie of resisting disruption when subjected to the aforesaid temperature changes.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures NORMAN L. SNOW. SAMUEL F. cox. 

